it: and the event has shown the truth of his prophetical character.

It should be also observed by us, that those predictions. were publicly spoken in the hearing of many people; not of the disciples only: and they were delivered with such marks of affection and tenderness, and contained so distinct and so moving a description of impending calamities, that nothing could have been better suited and adapted to prevent them, by inducing men to repent: and if they did not repent, he assured them, that " then would be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to that time, no nor ever shall be," Matt. xxiv. 21. And when he was led away to be crucified," and there followed him a great company of people, and of women, who also bewailed him and lamented him, Jesus turning unto them, said: Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.-For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?" Luke xxiii. 26–31.

And we plainly perceive by his words, that the desolation, which he foresaw, would be of a long duration, as we also see in the event: which added to his concern for that people. It was not a single judgment, a calamity of one day, though great and terrible, but a long scene of affliction and darkness, which he foretold and bewailed. "And when he was come nigh, he beheld the city, and wept over it, saying: If thou hadst known, even thou, in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! But now they are hid from thine eyes," Luke xix. 41, 42. And, "how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings! and ye would not: Behold, your house is left unto you desolate," Matt. xxiii. 37, 38. Once more, "then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let them which are in the midst of it, [meaning the city of Jerusalem,] depart out, and let not them that are in the country enter therein: for these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. For there shall be great distress in the land, and much wrath upon this people: and they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled," Luke xxi. 21-24.

The great and punctual accomplishment of these and other words of our Lord, concerning the sad ruin, the wide dispersion, and long captivity of the Jewish people, afford

a strong argument for the truth of the christian religion; and assure us, that Jesus spoke with divine authority, and that the doctrine taught by him, and contained in the New Testament, the writings of his apostles, and their faithful companions, is true and of God.

2. The state of things, formerly observed, is also conformable to ancient prophecies found in the books of Moses and other parts of the Old Testament.

In those books are contained prophecies of the general conversion of the nations of the earth to the acknowledgment and service of the one living and true God, delivered when the worship of God was confined to the one nation of the Jews alone, or to a few men only, their patriarchs and ancestors, and a very small number besides. The way or means, by which this blessing should be conveyed to the world, was also intimated. To Abraham it was declared, that in him, that is, through him and his posterity, all nations, or families of the earth should be blessed: that confines the accomplishment of the promise to his family; some one or more of which must be the author, or authors and instruments of this general blessing. The same promise is solemnly renewed to Jacob. Gen. xxviii. 14. Afterwards there were prophecies delivered, containing limitations and restrictions relating to the tribe of Judah, and the family of David. The descendants of Abraham in general, or many of them, may some way contribute to this design: but the tribe of Judah and the family of David are often spoken of with special regard. In Isaiah particularly, it is foretold: "There shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots-In that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign_to the people, to it shall the Gentiles seek," Isa. xi. 1, 2, 11. Again," I will give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayst be my salvation unto the ends of the earth," ch. xlix. 6. And it is out of the tribe of Judah, and the family of David, that our Lord arose: and by him, as is manifest, the knowledge of God has been spread over the earth; and the promise made to Abraham, that "in him all the families of the earth should be blessed," has been fulfilled.

But beside this there are intimations given in the Old Testament, that when this event should happen, the Jewish people would be in some circumstances which are disadvantageous.

Observable are the words of our Lord when he foretells the destruction of Jerusalem. "For these be the days of

vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled," Luke xxi. 22. It is not improbable, that our Lord has here an especial reference to some prophecies in the book of Daniel, relating particularly to the destruction of the city of Jerusalem, which he foresaw, and was then speaking of; but he might also have an eye to some other parts of scripture: and we may without much difficulty perceive divers things said in the Old Testament, which are prophetical, not only of the destruction of Jerusalem, but likewise of the long captivity and dispersion which

were to ensue.

Jacob foretelling the condition of his posterity in future times, says, "Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise. Thy hand shall be upon the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down unto thee," Gen. xlix. 8. The tribe of Judah, as we find from the history of the people of Israel, usually had some distinction among the rest. At length David and his descendants, who were of that tribe, sat upon the throne of government among them: and from Judah the kingdom of the two tribes was called: and indeed from that tribe all Israelites in general were styled Jews.

It follows in the place just cited: "The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor the lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come: and unto him shall the gathering of the people be," ver. 10. The sense of which prophecy may be briefly taken in this manner: The royal power and authority, which shall be established in the posterity of Judah, shall not be taken from them; or at least they shall not be destitute of rulers and governors; no, not when they are in a declining condition, until the coming of the • Messiah: but when he is come, there shall be no distinction between the Jews and other nations who shall be 'obedient to the Messiah: and after that the posterity of Judah and people of the Jews shall have neither king nor 'ruler of their own, but the commonwealth of Judah shall ⚫ lose all form of civil government and authority.'

This we know to have happened about the time of our Saviour's coming. From David to the Babylonish captivity that tribe held the sceptre for several ages. After seventy years captivity the Jews returned to Judea, or the land of Canaan, where they lived again according to their own laws: their temple was rebuilt, and they sacrificed and worshipped there, for the most part, with great freedom, according to the appointments of the law of Moses. They * See Patrick upon the place.

were a distinct people, and had among them civil government and authority: but at the time of our Lord's birth, and afterwards, they were in some measure subject to the Romans and the Jewish power and authority declined, till it was quite abolished and overthrown by the emperors Vespasian and Titus, about forty years after our Lord's ascension and so it has been to this day.

Moses assured the people of Israel: "The Lord thy God will raise thee up a Prophet, from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me: unto him shall ye hearken," Deut. xviii. 15. And God himself said to Moses: "I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee: and I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words, which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him," ver. 18, 19.

Some understand this to be an express prophecy concerning the Messiah himself, that great Prophet, who would be in an especial manner like unto Moses. Others have supposed it to be a promise of a constant succession of prophets among them.

Allow this last to be the meaning, it implies a command to hear Jesus, if he were a prophet; and a threatening of punishment, if he were not heard and obeyed: and that Jesus was a prophet, is evident from testimonials surpassing not only those given to other prophets among them, but even to Moses himself. Consequently disobedience to him was a thing for which God would certainly reckon with them.

I shall cite a passage or two more out of later prophets. In Daniel it is said: " Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people, and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgressions, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy. Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to rebuild Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself. And the people of the prince that shall come, shall destroy the city and the sanctuary, and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week, and in the midst of the week he

shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease: and for the overspreading of abomination he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate, Dan. ix. 24-27.

Here is a promise made to Daniel, that the city of Jerusalem with its temple should be rebuilt: and that they should for some while there worship and serve God, as we know they did after the return from Babylon. And here is a promise of the appearing of the Messiah, and a prediction of great desolation afterwards: which also we know to have happened soon after the time of Jesus, who was a great prophet, and anointed of God in a most extraordinary manner, and was generally rejected by the people to whom Daniel belonged, and to whom he prophesied.

In Malachi, the last of the prophets of the Old Testament, are these words; "Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord whom ye seek shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, in whom ye delight. Behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts: but who may abide the day of his coming? And who shall stand when he appears? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fuller's soap: and he shall sit as a refiner of silver," Mal. iii. 1-3. And afterwards: "For behold the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea and all that do wickedly, shall be as stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing under his wings, and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall: and ye shall tread down the wicked, and they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet, in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts," Mal. iv. 1—3.

Certainly these are not insignificant words in the mouth of the prophet; and these emphatical expressions do evidently appear to relate to a great person who should come among the Jews whilst their temple was standing: whereas their temple was destroyed, and they were led into captivity soon after the time of Jesus our Lord.

John the Baptist, who well understood these prophecies, and knew his own character, says therefore: "And now also the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I. Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor. He